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FSTC and Khalifa University to create interactive Science Heritage Centre in UAE

Khalifa University (KU) and the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the KU campus in Abu Dhabi. The MoU aims to promote greater recognition and appreciation of science and invention in Muslim civilisation and its influence in today's fast-paced world. As part of the MoU, the first joint project to be introduced in Abu Dhabi will be an expansion of the Khalifa University Discovery Center by introducing the Muslim Heritage Science and Engineering exhibition, partly based on the 1001 Inventions global initiative developed by FSTC.

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State of the art educational attraction will highlight the achievements of Muslim inventors as well as the future innovations which are taking place in Abu Dhabi

This MoU aims to celebrate the contribution of the Muslim civilisation to the artistic, scientific, technological development of modern civilisation.

Abu Dhabi, 12 January 2011: Khalifa University (KU) and the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the KU campus in Abu Dhabi. The MoU aims to promote greater recognition and appreciation of science and invention in Muslim civilisation and its influence in today's fast-paced world.

As part of the MoU, the first joint project to be introduced in Abu Dhabi will be an expansion of the Khalifa University Discovery Center by introducing the Muslim Heritage Science and Engineering exhibition, partly based on the ‘1001 Inventions' global initiative developed by FSTC.

The new exhibits will showcase the scientific achievements of Muslim civilisation from the 7th century CE onwards. The centre will also highlight the cooperative efforts of people from different backgrounds and ethnic groups. FSTC, a British based non-profit, non-religious, academic organization, produced the hugely successful ‘1001 Inventions' exhibition which has attracted more than one million visitors across Europe and the USA. Working with the world's leading academics, FSTC aims to engage with the public through educational media and interactive global exhibitions, in order to highlight the shared cultural and technological inheritance of humanity.

The recently-signed MoU lays the foundation for future partnerships to collaborate in identifying and developing research and academic cooperation opportunities. Based on this MoU, the new Khalifa University Campus in Abu Dhabi will reflect elements of Muslim Science, Technology, Medecine and Heritage in its design, thereby enhancing the academic experience of its students.

Professor Salim TS Al-Hassani, Chairman of FSTC, expressed his delight and enthusiasm at working with KU, saying: "Our organisation, which includes dozens of the world's leading historians of science, has been working for decades to bring the truth about Muslim Heritage in science and technology to as wide an audience as possible. We have made a huge impact in the USA and Europe and enlightened millions of people, but there is much more to be done. Working with an internationally renowned institution of academic excellence like Khalifa University is an extraordinary opportunity for us to inspire the leaders of tomorrow by revealing to them the important role that male and female scholars from the Muslim world have had on the modern age."

Commenting at the signing, Dr. Tod A. Laursen, President of Khalifa University, stated: "In academic research, we must look to the past for inspiration. Khalifa University is proud to enter into this MoU with the FSTC because we understand the importance of acknowledging the contribution of all inventors to modern society. This new initiative will further help us in our mission to educate and train well rounded professionals for the future. For our students, this high-tech interactive experience will be highly beneficial to their studies and will complement our already world class offerings at Khalifa University."

He added: "The opportunity to host this exhibition at our Discovery Centre is an honour, as it is of the utmost importance to inspire and motivate the younger generations by highlighting the important contributions of Muslims to modern civilisation. This exhibition will also place great emphasis on the future innovations which are coming out of Abu Dhabi and indeed the UAE."

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About The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC)
FSTC is an international educational entity established to popularise, disseminate and promote an accurate account of Muslim Heritage and its contribution to present day science, technology and civilisation. As well as developing and maintaining www.MuslimHeritage.com and www.1001inventions.com, FSTC has produced publications, conferences and teacher training seminars on the subject. FSTC is creator of the world renowned 1001 Inventions initiative which educates a global audience about the scientific and cultural contribution made by Muslim Civilisation during the classical age of the Islamic history.

FSTC promotes an accurate understanding of the thousand years of exceptional advances in science, technology and the arts made by men and women in Muslim civilisation, from the 7th century onwards, which is not well known to the public. FSTC works with educators to ensure Muslim heritage is accurately and fairly represented within history and science curricula to facilitate understanding and appreciation of the historic contributions towards the development of contemporary science and technology worldwide.

FSTC is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is entirely non-religious and non-political educational body which hopes to inspire young people from both Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds to find career role models in science and engineering.

About Khalifa University
Khalifa University was established in February 2007 by a decree issued by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to complement Abu Dhabi's 2030 vision, which aims at building a knowledge-based economy that effectively contributes to the development of the UAE.

Khalifa University's main campus is located in Abu Dhabi, while it operates with another campus in Sharjah. Presently, it offers bachelor degrees in Computer Science, Communication, Electronic, Software, Mechanical, Aerospace and BioMedical Engineering, Master's and Doctorate degree programs in Computer Science, Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering, in addition to the Master's degree in Information Security. In the future, Khalifa University will also offer degrees in other disciplines of Engineering, Logistics and Management, Life Sciences and Homeland Security.

Moreover, Khalifa University will include research centers in disciplines such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Energy, Nanotechnology, Aerospace and Health Sciences.

Khalifa University is open to men and women from all nationalities with particular emphasis being placed on educating young UAE nationals. For more information, please visit www.ku.ac.ae